Iraqi Elections Deliver A Victory for U.S. Goals

Positive Signs Include Support for Strong Central Government.

Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki's strong performance in Iraq's provincial elections was also a victory for American goals.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/02/05/AR2009020500516.html

New Alliances In Iraq Cross Sectarian Lines

In Baghdad, Saleh al-Mutlak, a leading secular Sunni Arab politician, says his supporters will ally with Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, of the Shiite Dawa party, in four provinces

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/03/19/AR2009031902885.html

Kurd sees 'very bad signals' from Baghdad

Masrour Barzani, the Kurdish region's security chief, criticizes the failure so far to implement an article of the Iraq Constitution concerning control of oil-rich Kirkuk.

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-iraq-barzani-qa28-2009mar28,0,563512.story

Iraqi general's presence in Kirkuk

Maj. Gen. Abdul Amir Zaidi laughs about rumors, but Kurds say they have reason to be nervous about the Arab-led division sent to their region in northern Iraq to oust Kurdish fighters.

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-iraq-kirkuk26-2009mar26,0,3941528.story

Iraqi Shiites rally for populist candidate

KARBALA, Iraq -- Hundreds of Shiites took to the streets in one of Iraq's holiest cities Saturday to insist that a populist candidate who won the most votes in provincial elections become governor.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/03/14/AR2009031400387.html

A Test for Iraq’s Democracy

Humvees of the Iraqi Army on Friday patrolled the streets of central Basra ahead of Saturday's vote. Security in Iraq has improved considerably, but the campaign has not been without violence. Three Sunni candidates were assassinated Thursday -- one in Mosul, one in Diyala and one in Baghdad.

Barack Obama's Iraq speech in full

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/us_and_americas/article5817735.ece
Barack Obama's Iraq speech in full

المالكي يجدد دعوته للمصالحة والعيساوي يكشف عن مبادرات جديدة

http://www.alsabaah.com/paper.php?source=akbar&mlf=interpage&sid=78749
السياسية الاولى: المالكي يجدد دعوته للمصالحة والعيساوي يكشف عن مبادرات جديدة

Show of Sunni-Shiite unity in Iraq

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/iraq/complete/la-fg-iraq-samarra7-2009mar07,0,7789669.story
Sunni Arabs welcome hundreds of thousands of Shiite pilgrims in the city of Samarra, where an attack on a Shiite shrine three years ago sparked sectarian bloodshed.

Positive Signs Include Support for Strong Central Government

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/02/05/AR2009020500516.html
Positive Signs Include Support for Strong Central Government

Nuri Kamal al-Maliki winner of Iraq’s provincial elections

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/06/world/middleeast/06iraq.html?_r=1
BAGHDAD — The Dawa Party of Prime Minister Nuri Kamal al-Maliki was the overwhelming winner of Iraq’s provincial elections, the first official results show.